Image via Netflix
By
Robert Lee III
Updated
2 hours ago
Writing from the Chicagoland area in Illinois, Robert is an avid movie watcher and will take just about any excuse to find time to go to his local movie theaters. Robert graduated from Bradley University with degrees in Journalism and Game Design with a minor in Film Studies. Robert tries his best to keep up with all the latest movie releases, from those released in theaters to those released on streaming. While he doesn't always keep up with the latest TV shows, he makes it a goal to watch nearly every major new release possible. He has been honing his craft and following any and all movie news all his life, leading up to now, where he has a vast knowledge of film and film history. He also logs every movie that he watches on his Letterboxd page, and has hosted a weekly online movie night with his closest friends for over 6 years.
Sign in to your Collider account
Add Us On
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
1
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
There has always been an ingrained fascination with being able to bring the pain and struggles of war to the big screen, capturing a painful struggle and sharing the ramifications of conflict through a cinematic lens. Whether it be introspective films that delve into the difficulties that war provides or more standard action films that make the most out of battle and bloodshed, war movies can take on many different shapes and styles in their execution.
The genre has continued to be a source for exceptional dramatic films even in the modern era, as the 2020s have already been home to several exceptional high-profile war films. More than simply the latest technologies allowing for more in-depth and immersive war experiences, the difficulties and pains of conflict in modern days have inspired many modern filmmakers to create their own stories of the pain and difficulties of war. Despite the decade only being about halfway done, the selection of new war movies released has been top-notch.
15 'Greyhound' (2020)
Tom Hanks in GreyhoundImage via Apple TV+
A highly underrated WWII that was largely overlooked and forgotten due to being released in the midst of the pandemic, Greyhound utilizes a great lead performance from Tom Hanks to bring to life the grit and weight of its real-life story. The film sees Hanks as Commander Krause, having to deal with his first time in a true warship battle as his ship attempts to cross the treacherous waters of the "Black Pit" to the front lines of WWII.
While there is a wide array of different WWII films that have shown the tensions and dread of one of the most brutal moments in world history, Greyhound sticks to what makes WWII stories so impactful by adhering to the classic conventions of the war genre. The film largely cemented itself as one of the first true standout films on AppleTV+, but would only grow more overshadowed as many other great war films were released over the 2020s.
14 'The Greatest Beer Run Ever' (2022)
A lighthearted reflection on the horrors of battle and the difficulties of the Vietnam War through the lens of a feel-good comedy, The Greatest Beer Run Ever evolves its fun premise into something with real dramatic weight. The film sees Zac Efron as Chuckie Donohue, a man who wants to do his part in supporting his friends fighting off in Vietnam, so he sets off on a journey to personally travel to Vietnam to bring his friend a beer. What starts as a well-meaning journey soon takes a turn as Chuckie firsthand experiences the dread of the war effort.
The film may be relatively surface-level in its exploration of anti-war rhetoric during the Vietnam era, yet its oodles of charm and comedic wit help elevate it and give it a distinct edge over all the other war films of the modern era. Peter Farrelly's distinct edge and capabilities for humor and likability prove to be the major selling point of the film, giving it a relatability factor and a style distinct from many other war movies.
13 'Benediction' (2021)
Jack Lowden as Siegfried Sassoon in Benediction Image via Roadside Attractions
While many war movies find themselves providing a struggling perspective of being in the heat of battle, Benediction uses the period of the First World War to tell its story of self-preservation and discovery. The film follows poet Siegfried Sassoon (Jack Lowden), who, having just returned from fighting in the First World War and being widely decorated for his bravery and achievements, becomes a vocal critic of the government's continuation of the war. His writing quickly makes him a star among those in London, as he continues to spread his message of peace while at the same time coming to terms with his homosexuality.
Benediction is much more than just another World War I movie, tackling elements and perspectives of the war that have rarely been covered through a cinematic lens. As much as the film is about war itself, it is much more about the impact and consequences that war holds on an individual, taking a part of them away and forever leaving them not quite whole. It's a scathing and deeply impactful drama on the often-forgotten impact of war, continuing to be deeply relevant as the decade goes on.
12 'Napoleon' (2023)
Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte riding a white horse into battle in Ridley Scott's NapoleonImage via Apple Studios
A gargantuan historical epic from legendary director Ridley Scott, Napoleon follows the rise and fall of infamous French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix) throughout the late 1700s and early 1800s. As Napoleon rises through the ranks on his journey to the highest power, he shows his tactful and brilliant battle strategies that made him one of the most formidable generals of all time. All the while, Napoleon is facing a volatile yet addictive relationship with his wife, Josephine, with said passionate love fueling his drive for power.
Scott makes the absolute most of the massive scale and gravity of this historical epic, with a multitude of brilliant action sequences that are brimming with awe and spectacle. Phoenix provides a terrific performance as always, fully embellishing the more chaotic and egotistical nature of the historical figure while growing more and more restless as the film goes on. As far as massive war epics in the modern era of film are concerned, few hold a candle to the filmmaking chops on display in Napoleon.
11 'Blitz' (2024)
Elliott Heffernan and Saoirse Ronan as George and Rita waiting in a crowd in Blitz.Image via Apple TV+
A timely and powerful story of the impact that war has on the lives of everyday citizens caught in the crossfire, Blitz is a painful story of love and separation caused by the hardships of war. The film follows young nine-year-old George, who, amid World War II, is forced to be evacuated to the countryside by his mother to escape the bombings in London. However, George simply can't help but stay away from his family, so he abandons the train to the countryside and embarks on a journey back home, while his mother, Rita (Saoirse Ronan) is searching for him in the process.
Steve McQueen's best movies have always been filled with stories of high emotional impact and turmoil, with Blitz combining the director's signature style with the hardships of war. The clashing of childlike innocence with the destructive pain of war makes for countless striking visuals and painful moments, showing the dark reality that war has on everyday people. Ronan also provides a terrific supporting performance, with child actor Elliott Heffernan cementing himself as a brilliantly talented actor in his first on-screen appearance.
10 'Lee' (2023)
Kate Winslet with a cigarette in her mouth seated and looking to the side as Lee Miller in Lee.Image via Sky Cinema
A highly underrated WWII biography about an overlooked war hero of the era whose story truly deserved a time in the spotlight, Lee soars thanks to both the timeless nature of its story and a resounding lead performance from Kate Winslet. The film follows the story of Elizabeth "Lee" Miller, a former fashion model who takes an unexpected career shift when she becomes a highly acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II.
There is a clear passion throughout each moment of the film to give Lee's story its long-deserved due justice and respect, with Winslet's standout performance fully living up to the stature and brilliance of the real-life hero. Her story of perseverance and strength in the face of brutality and pain, going against prejudice and coming out the other side a true war hero, makes for one of the most engrossing and dynamic war biographies of recent memory.
9 'Sisu' (2022)
Jorma Tommila as Aatami Korpi in SISU.Image via Antti Rastivo/Lionsgate
While many other war films often opt for a more serious, grounded approach to non-fictional storytelling, Sisu instead takes the John Wick approach in creating the most chaotic, over-the-top, and explosive action experience imaginable. The Finnish film sees a stern and silent ex-soldier (Jorma Tommila) discovering bundles of gold in the Lapland wilderness, finding himself having to take down legions of brutal German soldiers to be able to take the loot into the city and earn his well-earned profit.
Sisu wears its war film iconography and setting more as a complementary dressing for its true calling as a wild, unrestrained masterpiece of over-the-top, gruesome action. It's incredibly satisfying to see this silent yet filled with personality figurehead laying waste to Nazi scum in the most satisfying ways possible. Even as he's on the brink of death and failure, a combination of pure determination and rage allows him to stand back up and take charge against pure evil.
8 'Da 5 Bloods' (2020)
Chadwick Boseman with castmates in Da 5 Bloods.Image via Netflix
Spike Lee has consistently tackled the themes of legacy, growth, and facing the sins of the past throughout his filmography, with Da 5 Bloods providing a brilliant war element to his striking style of storytelling. The film follows a group of four African-American Vietnam veterans who find themselves returning to Vietnam in search of the remains of their fallen squad leader and the possibility of buried treasure. The trek into the jungles of Vietnam proves to be more difficult than expected, as they are forced to confront their own humanity and the unexpected dangers that still remain.
CL Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters
Dive into the world of entertainment with Collider, delivering the latest news, reviews, and exclusive updates from movies, TV, and pop culture Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.Da 5 Bloods finds a brilliant and effective balance between its powerful portrayal of PTSD and war-driven consequences, while still managing to be deeply entertaining without losing its emotional core. The film goes back and forth between their modern-day ventures to find treasure and flashbacks to their time in combat, each having their statements to say about the pains of the Vietnam War on African American lives. It features an important and timely message about confronting and not ignoring the sins of the past, something ever prevalent to Lee's philosophy as a filmmaker as well as the Vietnam War as a whole.
7 'Guy Ritchie's The Covenant' (2023)
Jake Gyllenhaal as Kinley holding a gun in Guy Ritchie's The CovenantImage via MGM
A high-tension drama that takes on the difficulties of modern war, Guy Ritchie's The Covenant is the decade's premiere look at the Afghanistan War through a cinematic lens. The film follows Sergeant John Kinley (Jack Gyllenhaal) and his travels across Afghanistan alongside his Afghan interpreter, Ahmed (Dar Salim). While John doesn't particularly enjoy Ahmed's tone and how he is brazenly doing the job for money, he is soon forced to rely on Ahmed after he finds himself injured on the field of battle. Despite John's preconceived notions, Ahmed ends up risking his life to carry him across miles of the grueling Afghanistan warzone.
Guy Ritchie has always been a deeply talented director when it comes to high-energy action, with his inherent style and energy fitting perfectly with this style of emotional, hard-hitting war drama. The film is unlike any other war movie in its execution due to how it directly contrasts with the stereotypical views that America had during this very war, showing a message of compassion and acceptance from other cultures in a difficult time. While the film certainly isn't as comedically charged as Ritchie's other films, The Covenant shows that the director has the chops to bring an emotionally gripping story to life.
6 'Warfare' (2025)
The soldiers in 'Warfare' celebratingImage via A24
While there are a multitude of films that have been made that explore the brutality and pains of the World Wars and the Vietnam War, the real-life experiences of the Iraq War are rarely ever touched upon in film, a concept brilliantly brought to life in Warfare. The film takes a dedicated effort toward realism in its story and filmmaking, entirely centering itself around the real-life memories of the soldiers who experienced it firsthand.
The film is violent, it's shocking and unpredictable in its high-tense storytelling, and each passing second proves to further amplify both the harsh experiences of the Iraq War and the undeniable aimlessness of the war effort as a whole. The combined directing talents of war veteran Raw Mendoza and experienced filmmaking legend Alex Garland go a long way in terms of making this a war film defined by its precision and filmmaking chops. It easily stands out as the definitive 21st-century non-fiction war film of the decade so far.
-
Movie
-
All Quiet on the Western Front
What To Watch
July 20, 2025
The 72 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Trending Now
‘I Swear’ Review: ‘The Rings of Power’ Star Robert Aramayo Is Impeccable in an Endearing, Unflinching Biopic
Every Live-Action Superhero Movie Turning 20 in 2026, Ranked
This Iconic Action Film Completely Changed Sci-Fi in the '90s — and It's Finally Available on Tubi
